Gary Lineker to appear on ITV World Cup broadcast

Former BBC presenter Gary Lineker will make his first appearance on terrestrial television since leaving the corporation last year as a guest on ITV's World Cup coverage this Saturday. He is scheduled to join the broadcast for the Group E match between Germany and Ivory Coast, which kicks off at 9 p.m. in Toronto.

Lineker's appearance marks a significant shift, as he had been the BBC's designated host for this tournament before his departure in May 2025. His 26-year association with the broadcaster ended following a social media controversy, which included the unintended sharing of a post containing an anti-Semitic trope. Both parties agreed he would step back from all future sports presenting commitments after his final season hosting "Match of the Day."

Since leaving the BBC, Lineker has focused on a lucrative podcast deal with Netflix. He and fellow former footballers Alan Shearer and Micah Richards are recording daily episodes of "The Rest Is Football" from a studio in New York City throughout the tournament. The arrangement, reportedly worth 14 million pounds, is understood not to prevent him from appearing on other networks.

For Saturday's fixture, Lineker is expected to...